Start your adventure on this Northern Italy itinerary to explore the most beautiful landscapes and cities of the country.Beginning in the small villages in the Cinque Terre, you'll visit exquisite villas, take in magnificent views and revel in the peacefulness of exploring the lesser known regions of Italy. You'll take in the beautiful coloured houses and iconic marina of the beautiful town of Portofino, tasting your way through the wineries of the Cinque Terre.After exploring the wonderful city of Florence, you'll spend your days absorbing the Tuscan countryside in all its beauty, visiting Siena, Monteriggioni and San Gimignano, sampling the wine and local cuisine as you go. Of course, it's not possible to take in the arts, culture and history of Italy without exploring two of its most historic and iconic destinations - Venice and Rome. The Floating City and the Eternal City as they are known will never disappoint, you'll have plenty of time to take in the main attractions and absorb the historic atmosphere of these wonderful destinations.
Excursion to San Gimignano, Siena & Monteriggioni from Florence
Airport transfer
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Train to Santa Margherita Ligure
Begin your Northern Italy itinerary by taking a train from Genoa to Santa Margherita Ligure. After checking into your accommodation, you'll start exploring this lovely city by the sea. First, you may want to explore the Chiesa di Santa Margherita d’Antiochia, notable for its 40-metre-tall tower and its beautiful paintings inside. You can also visit the exquisite Villa Durazzo with its beautiful gardens and view over the gulf.
Day 2: Explore Portofino & San Fruttuoso Abbaye
Travelling by boat, today you'll go to Portofino and San Fruttuoso. The former is a beautiful town with coloured houses in the Gulf of Tigullio, here you can explore the church and the hilltop castle which boasts incredible views over the harbour, once for defense purposes. The latter is a unique place, by the sea, where the white abbey shines over the green Mediterranean vegetation.
Day 3: Explore Cinque Terre by Train
From Santa Margherita to the Cinque Terre, you'll explore this wonderful region and top the day off with a wine tasting. Using locals trains, you'll go to Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. Built to watch over the bay and protect Vernazza from invaders, Castello di Vernazza is perched on a rocky peninsula which juts out into the sea. The round tower, sitting at 60 metres high, is an iconic sight of Vernazza. In this last town, enjoy a wine tasting at a small winery.
Day 4: Travel to Florence & Explore!
Continue your Northern Italy itinerary by travelling to Florence by train this morning. After check-in, you'll join a group for a guided tour of the wonders of Florence. This is a tour to introduce Florence to visitors who have never seen the city. During the guided visit you will learn about centuries of History from the Roman era to modern times. You visit the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, the Uffizi and l'Accademia, there is so much to see in Florence!
Day 5: Siena, Monteriggioni & San Gimignano
On this full-day group excursion, you'll explore Tuscany, its villages, its landscapes and its wine. Beginning in Monteriggioni, one of the most beautiful and intact walled towns in Tuscany, you'll then move on to Siena where you'll visit the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe's greatest medieval squares. Whilst in the square, you'll admire the Tower of Mangia, a landmark of the city. You'll finish the day in San Gimignano, a beautiful town surrounded by 13th-century walls.
Day 6: Train to Venice & Explore Venice's Islands
Today, you'll take a train to Venice in the morning. In the afternoon, you'll take a relaxing boat tour towards the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Beginning in Murano, you'll learn about the long and thriving tradition dating back to 1291 of glass blowing. You'll then move onto the colourful streets and pastel-coloured houses of Burano, before finishing in Torcello, the centre of the first Venetian civilization founded between the 5th and 6th centuries.
Day 7: Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica
Today, during a shared guided tour, you'll visit the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. A palace that has been built and rebuilt many times due to its turbulent past, Doge's Palace is a grand and beautiful building that will be exciting to explore. You'll then head to St. Mark's Basilica, an icon of Venice and a 9th-century church, renowned for its mosaics totalling 8000 square-metres.
Day 8: Train to Rome & Visit the Colosseum
This morning, you'll catch a train to Rome which will take around 4 hours. After checking into your hotel in the afternoon, you'll join a shared guided tour to visit the Colosseum. Originally built in 80AD for the purpose of Roman games and gladiator shows, it is estimated that the Colosseum could seat up to 80,000 onlookers, with an average of 65,000 attendees per spectacle. Visit this ancient monument and feel the atmosphere that dates back 2,000 years.
Day 9: Explore the Vatican Museums
Today, you'll visit another symbol of Rome, the Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel during a shared guided tour. The Vatican Museums not only houses extensive collections of art, archaeology and ethno-anthropology but also contains some of the Apostolic Palace’s most extraordinary rooms. In the afternoon, you'll explore Rome aboard a hop-on-hop-off boat on the Tiber River, which will take you past the most iconic landmarks.
Day 10: Villa Borghese
Today, you'll visit one of the largest urban parks in Europe and the third largest park in the city of Rome, Villa Borghese. A beautiful park made up of a complex of museums, buildings and landscaped gardens, Villa Borghese houses a vast number of paintings, sculptures, bas-reliefs and mosaics spread through 20 beautifully-frescd rooms.
Day 11: End of Your Northern Italy Itinerary
Depending on your flight time, you can enjoy some free time in Rome on your last day before your driver takes you to Fiumicino Airport for your departing flight.
Location
11-Day Northern Italy Cultural & Historical Experience
